Top Rated Plays lists the defining tracks of selected themes.
This list may be subject to change, but I’m trying to include only ones that survive repeated listenings and stay fresh.
Enjoy!
BLISSFUL • CJ STONE – STORM (LAVKASTOR & ENYO GIOVE REMIX)
2 PLAYS | #063 | A. LITTERSCHEID, C. HAUF, H. REITH (P. TWARDY, R. BRZOZOWSKI)
TRANCE | 8:49 | 2006
A beautiful representation of the theme from start to finish. From the etheral pads that kick things off to the exotic chorus whistles. The vocal presence is minimal, which works in its favour.
CANVAS • VIVIENXO – SEX (THE 1975 COVER)
1 PLAY | #160 | VIVIENXO | SYNTH-POP | 2:52 | 2016
A short, sweet, and hypnotic vocal track. It always reminds me of having new years breakfast with a friend at a Margate café. The fact that Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” played in the café amplifies this. Vivienxo’s “Sex” has a sentimental 80s charm, with a modern twist.
CASINO • LALO SCHIFRIN – ROOM 26 (MOVIE VERSION)
3 PLAYS | #181 | L. SCHIFRIN | JAZZ-LOUNGE | 2:28 | 1968
A recent addition to Casino, but the best representation of it. 2 minutes of suave 60s Jazz. Play it to your poker buddies.
CIRCUIT • SOULWAX – KRACK (NITE VERSION)
1 PLAY | #174 | D. DEWAELE, S. DEWAELE | ELECTRO | 5:23 | 2005
An aggressive hybrid of tech and indie genres, with an incredible buzzy bass hook. “Krack” showcases the recent revision of the Circuit theme excellently in a slow 5 minute build.
CITY • PLAYIN’ 4 THE CITY – CHICAGO NIGHTS
2 PLAYS | #158 | O. PORTAL | DEEP HOUSE | 6:10 | 2000
Perfectly matched to the City theme. I can see the city lights and fancy plazas as if they’re right in front of me. A great track for driving through the tall dark blue.
DEEP • JEAN F. COCHOIS – RÜCKBLICK
2 PLAYS | #097 | J. COCHOIS | AMBIENT | 1:44 | 2009
Vastly underplayed, Jean’s atmospheric interlude is the perfect representation of the Deep theme’s second hour. Haunting and beautiful, as if lost in a distant nebula.
DREAM • CHRIS LE BLANC FT. LIZ JUNE – ENJOY YOUR LIFE (ORIGINAL MIX)
3 PLAYS | #187 | C. WEIS | WELLNESS | 4:09 | 2005
A bittersweet, moving track, evoking memories of Brentwood, UK. For personal reasons, that place has become unpredictably exotic for me.
DRIVE • DJ MERI FT. EVA K – WARMER DAYS (ORIGINAL LIQUATECH MIX)
5 PLAYS | #187 | M. MERI | PROGRESSIVE HOUSE | 6:40 | 2011
One of the very top plays on Alecmosphere, and a joy to hear. “Warmer Days” has a long lasting summer vibe, with the feeling of driving down an outer highway of a summer city.
ENERGETIC • SCOOTER – ONE [ALWAYS HARDCORE] (CLUB MIX)
2 PLAYS | #164 | H.P. GEERDES, H. STEDLER, J. FROSCH | EURO-TRANCE | 7:16 | 2005
In the height of Scooter’s third chapter, the trio released “One”, an anthem for the hardest and most euphoric rush of Trance. The suspense in the divide between the two choruses is genius.
FREEWAY • ROWPIECES – COSMIC FUNK
2 PLAYS | #078 | R. SCHMIDBAUER | LIQUID DRUM & BASS | 7:27 | 2013
“Cosmic Funk” contains one of the most addictive hooks I’ve played on Alecmosphere. It has yet to make it’s way into Freeway, but was a big part of the Drive theme, when that included D&B.
FUTURE • GOURYELLA – LIGAYA (AIRBASE REMIX)
3 PLAYS | #147 | F. CORSTEN, J. EWBANK (J. SÖDERLUND) | TRANCE | 8:38 | 2003
One of the finest Trance tracks, and unfortunately never included in the “Ligaya” release. This track exemplifies the Future sound and is something I have trouble finding more of.
HOTEL • FRANCESCA GRAMEGNA – CONVERSAZIONE
2 PLAYS | #169 | F. GRAMEGNA | LOUNGE | 3:01 | 2016
The quintessential Hotel track. I always envision the fancy hotel lobbies, the red and gold décor, just pure elegance. This is reflected in both the instrumentation and the vocals.
LACE • DYME-A-DUZIN FT. KEHLANI – STAY UP
2 PLAYS | #147 | D. BLOCKER | RnB | 4:08 | 2015
The Lace theme is known for being quite dirty, so this track is something of a departure from that. “Stay Up” offers a more beautiful side to the sleazy sound.
MONASTERY • VANGELIS – THE LITTLE FETE
1 PLAY | #148 | E. PAPATHANASSIOU | WELLNESS | 3:00 | 1979
In the deepest parts of rural Asia, surrounded by a lake and some calligraphy brushes, meditating in an ancient shrine. This is what I see when I hear “The Little Fete”. The poem recital half way into the track is a welcome addition to this feeling.
RETRO • SOFTWARE – ISLAND-SUNRISE
1 PLAY | #163 | P. MERGENER, M. WEISSER | SYNTH-POP | 6:30 | 1988
The exotic and the old combined effortlessly in this late 80s track. Not a typical representation of Retro, but it’s so special, I had to include it here.
ROAD • MOTÖRHEAD – HEARTBREAKER
1 PLAY | #131 | I. KILMISTER, P. CAMPBELL, M. DELAOGLOU | THRASH METAL | 3:05 | 2013
One of the roughest sounding Thrash Metal tracks I’ve ever heard. The electric guitars cut through almost tribal-sounding percussion, paired excellently with an agressive adrenaline rush.
RURAL • PLUMP DJs FT. LOU ROBINSON – MORNING SUN
1 PLAY | #171 | A. GARDENER, L. ROUS, L. ROBINSON | CHILLOUT | 4:52 | 2003
An incredibly immersive track, giving off that great outdoors feeling that Rural is all about. The vocals match the mood well, and I still enjoy listening to it, hence its inclusion here.
STREET • OSHI – TAKE FLIGHT
2 PLAYS | #161 | J. BRENNAN | TRAP | 2:46 | 2015
Offering up a dream-like interlude for the Street theme, “Take Flight” has a summery beauty perfectly matched with a modern rhythm, evoking memories of a summer city.
TECHNOCITY • DELANO SMITH – NEBULA (ORIGINAL MIX)
1 PLAY | #129 | D. SMITH | DEEP HOUSE | 7:26 | 2009
The other side of the City theme is emulated well in this track. A throwback of sorts to the classic Deep House sound, with an experimental lead wobbling and twisting half-way in. I think of the times when I have to leave London late in the evening.
TROPICAL • OLEKSA LOZOWCHUK – FORTUNE’S DELICACY
6 PLAYS | #187 | O. LOZOWCHUK | ACOUSTIC | 4:10 | 2010
One of a group of specially produced mall themes for the video game Dead Rising 2. “Fortune’s Delicacy” delves deeper into the exotic atmosphere, with a beautiful acoustic guitar and accompanying panpipes.
WINTER • VANGELIS – MEMORY OF ANTARCTICA
4 PLAYS | #156 | E. PAPATHANASSIOU | AMBIENT | 5:30 | 1983
Bringing forth seasonal chimes and beautiful chord progression, “Memory Of Antarctica” holds a certain warmth in seemingly cold surroundings. A perfect representation of magical winter lands.
DARK • TIM HAYWOOD – AVERY MARX
1 PLAY | #149 | T. HAYWOOD | DARK AMBIENT | 3:35 | 1999
The theme of the so-called Home Improvement Killer, “Avery Marx” depicts a chilling theme of insanity, isolation. Taken from the video game Shadow Man, our hero pursues a serial killer through an abandoned, decaying apartment complex.
GAME • YUZO KOSHIRO – THE LAST SOUL
2 PLAYS | #147 | Y. KOSHIRO | FUNK | 3:17 | 1991
The iconic Round 8 theme from Streets Of Rage channels a higher class of early 90s funk, as the player makes his way through the elegant headquarters of the enemy.
Iceferno 